FAQ

Below you will find our most frequently asked questions.

Is it safe and secure to purchase through PayPal™?

Yes, absolutely. With PayPal™ you can quickly and easily buy from us as well as other PayPal™ enabled stores across the web and track all your orders and shipping in one place. PayPal’s anti-fraud technology covers you against unauthorized purchases made through PayPal™, and they don’t share your purchase history or full credit card number with us or other sellers. You can keep your email address confidential, and easily turn off unwanted emails from stores where you use PayPal™.

How should I store your product?

Our product should ideally be stored in an airtight glass or plastic container and placed in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight such as your refrigerator or freezer. Green tea powder is a powerful antioxidant that oxidizes very easily if not stored properly between uses.

What is the difference between matcha and green tea powder?

Green tea powder is a general descriptive name for green tea that has undergone processing into a fine powdered form. Matcha is a specific type of green tea powder that originates from Japan. Tea, like any other high value food or beverage, operates much like the wine industry and their concept of appellation and terroir. While our premium green tea powder may not technically be “matcha” from Japan in terms of pedigree, we proudly consider our product to be the “finest quality Napa Valley wine” of green tea powders.

Aren't all green tea powders pretty much the same?

Not necessarily. Selection of green tea leaves, fertility of soil, climate, handling, processing technique, plant genetics and packaging all play a large role in the texture, color, tannin level and flavor profile of the final product.

Why is your green tea powder brighter and lighter in color in its dry state compared to other powders?

We hand select young tea leaves that are higher in chlorophyll which as a result produces a very desirable bright green color. High chlorophyll levels means our product is also low in tannin. Tannin is the natural compound that produces the astringency or bitterness in foods and drinks such as in dark chocolate and red wine. Our green tea powder is then stored in airtight packaging to ensure that our tea does not become darker or brownish due to oxidation. We go to great lengths in the tea leaf processing and powder packaging process to ensure that you are getting the freshest and finest premium green tea powder available.

How much powder do I mix to make a cup of (iced or hot) tea?

For non (tea) ceremonial use, we recommend a 1/4 teaspoon for every 2 measuring cups of water. Add a little more or a little less powder depending on your flavor intensity preferences. Check out some of our great beverage recipes and ideas!

Is it okay to microwave green tea powder with hot water?

It is not recommended to microwave (or over heat for that matter) any organic or natural product. Microwaving effectively diminishes the nutritional value of food by up to 95%. Now that’s food for thought! If you must use a microwave to make green tea or any tea then we recommend that you first heat the water and then add your tea later.

Do you ship outside the United States?

Currently, we do not ship online orders outside the United States and Canada. Please inquire with your country’s postal service to see if they offer package forwarding services from an US address such as with New Zealand’s YouPost service. Alternatively, you may want to search online for companies that provide “package consolidation services” to your country.

Does your product contain wheat gluten?

Our product does not contain gluten of any kind nor was it processed or packaged near wheat gluten sources.

Is your product 100% vegan?

Yes, there are no animal sources contained of any kind.

Is there anyway to reduce or remove the natural tannin (astringency/bitterness) in tea?

Although our green tea powder is already quite low in tannin, there are a couple of methods available. The easiest way would be to just add sugar or sweetener but this is merely masking and covering up the tannins. However, there is another way but it comes at an expense and your “results may vary”. A rarely known way of reducing tannin is to use a magnetic tannin reducer which typically would be used to soften the tannin and astringency as well as improve the finish of young wines. Just Google “wine magnet” or visit a local wine cellar.

What is “tea liquor” and does it contain alcohol?

Tea liquor, in the world of tea, is the infusion of tea in a liquid. Unless the mentioned liquid contains alcohol, tea liquors do not contain alcohol. Tea on its own does not contain enough sugar to ferment into alcohol during a distillation. There are however creative bartenders or “mixologists” that infuse green tea leaves and/or powder in spirits or blend green tea powder in cocktails such as in a vodka based green tea martini a.k.a. a green-tea-ni.

I love your blended recipes! Do you recommend a particular brand of blender?

Here at our test kitchens we use and recommend both Blendtec and Vita-Mix blenders. The Blendtec is preprogrammed and is a real no brainer to operate. The Vita-Mix has variable controls and is better suited to experienced blenders (or culinary control freaks).

What is the difference between theanine and L-theanine in green tea?

Enter basic biochemistry 101… What is contained in green tea is naturally occurring theanine, no “L-“, just theanine the way nature intended it to be. The “L-” which you commonly find in supplements refers to “levorotary” which refers to a compound’s rotation plane of polarized light. Synthetic compounds are designated with “L-” due to a chemical extraction process while naturally derived compounds are designated without a prefix or in some cases spelled out with a “d-” which stands for dexorotary. There is debate over the health benefits and effectiveness between the L-form and D-form of compounds but as a general rule; L-forms are synthetic and D-forms are natural.

Is green tea really a “cancer fighting” agent or supplement?

The short answer is no. Green tea’s health benefits are PREVENTATIVE. The EGCG that is contained in green tea is effective for PREVENTING certain cancers. The exception found in a recent study using mice at the University of Southern California discovered that EGCG reduces the bioavailability of a specific anti-cancer drug called Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. As with any life threatening disease or serious medical condition, we strongly recommend and urge you to seek the professional advice and opinion of your physician or oncologist before the use of any natural therapeutic product.

Can I drink green tea while pregnant or breastfeeding?

We do not recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women drink any type of tea including green teas. Most teas, with the exception of some herbal teas, contain varying quantities of caffeine that can be passed on to the fetus or through breast milk. Consult your physician for alternatives to tea for you to enjoy during your maternity. By the way congratulations!

What's the story with the cute green cat on your about page?

That would be a “maneki neko” which is believed to bring good luck in Japanese culture.